Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

The Minister does not intend to pursue that matter at present. The matter has not been examined by me to date. I have been, since taking up office, familiarising myself with the brief. I will undertake to examine the matter and to report directly on it to the Deputy.

In terms of the Government's overall strategy in this area, it is important to point out that the needs of some 140,000 households will be met through the housing programme during the lifetime of the NDP. We are spending €21 billion on that programme. Some €18 billion will be spent directly on housing and a further €5 billion has been allocated in respect of rent allowances, mortgage supplements and the rental allowance scheme, RAS. All of this illustrates the Government's intention to honour its commitments to the housing sector during the lifetime of the development plan.

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